To:S. G. SHAHUMYAN

Published:First published inBulletins of the Dictatorship of the C.C. of the Caspian Flotilla and of the Presidium of the Provisional Executive CommitteeNo. 33, September 8, 1918.

      Sent to Baku.

      Printed from the text ofBulletins.Source:Lenin
	  Collected Works,

      Progress Publishers,1975,

      Moscow,Volume 44,

      page93a.Translated:Clemens DuttTranscription\Markup:R. CymbalaPublic Domain:Lenin Internet Archive.You may freely copy, distribute,
	display and perform this work, as well as make derivative and
	commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet
	Archive” as your source.•README

Moscow, May 24, 1918

DearComrade Shahumyan,

Itake the opportunity to send you once again a few words
(I sent you a letter by hand recently; did you receive
it?[1]).

TheBaku situation is a difficult one internationally.
I would advise you therefore to attempt a bloc with
Jordania. If that is impossible, you must manoeuvre andpostponea decision until you are stronger militarily. A sober
estimate and diplomacy for a postponement—remember
that.

Getthe radio going and send me letters through
Astrakhan.

Allthe best,Yours,Lenin

[1]Leninprobably has in mind the letter he sent to S. G. Shahumyan
on May 14, 1918 (see present edition, Vol. 35, Document 145).

Lenin’sletter of May 24 was delivered to Baku by S. M.
Ter-Gabrielyan, one of the leaders of the Baku Commune.